Charlie Parker Omnibook for E Flat Instruments
Last updated: 17.12.19
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Printed: 1978 Author: Charlie Parker
Publisher: Alfred Publishing ISBN: 0769260543
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Recorded Solos (Plastic Comb)
142 pages, usually ships within 24 hours.
Amazon Review
Reviewer:Neal Smith (Davenport, Iowa USA)
There's no denying this book is considered a classic, but it could use a few revisions. It appears not to have changed at all since its original appearance in 1976, including an annoying amount of tacky and out-of-date advertisements. In one instance, a half-page ad on the second page of "K.C. Blues" replaces what should have been Parker's second solo on that tune! Many of the songs are transcribed without key signatures - adding key signatures would make transposing tunes and riffs significantly easier. There are some rhythm errors in a few of the tunes ("K.C. Blues" has one measure with only three counts, "Ballade" also has a few rhythm mistakes and is nearly impossible to read the way it's written, with its overabundance of 32nd and 64th note runs). I'm not questioning the talent of Parker - some of the other "Omnibook" reviews here are based on Parker's playing abilities rather than the way his compositions are represented in these transcriptions. The simple addition of key signatures would be a huge improvement. For less experienced students, it'd also be nice to see a synopsis of the tune beneath the title describing the song's form or the origin of the chord changes. Simple things like that could make this book even more indispensable than it has become. Do we all have to buy this book? Despite its shortcomings, I'm afraid the answer is "yes". Surely, there's some ambitious grad student out there somewhere willing to enter the entire book into Finale or Sibelius so we can at least get key signatures and those few rhythm corrections. Please?